A/N: And I live! So it's been a helluva long time since I've written anything. I sincerely apologize, there is no excuse except that I'm too lazy for my own good. I received two phone calls today to schedule interviews with two colleges that I applied to, so I'm super happy and decided to write something. Which is kinda weird cause this fic is sort of the opposite of joy? Anyways, I hope you enjoy, and thank you for being patient if you're still around. Anyways, I always imagined Sasori to be v poetic, so there ya go.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for this AU plot!

A-Z Challenge: 2. I for Infinity

Summary: With life comes inevitable death, but I refuse to not believe the words that escape past those bloody, chapped lips as the fire dies in your eyes; the finale before the curtains fall. I barely manage to catch it as you whisper, "We're infinite." (SasoSaku)

Word Count: 800

!Warning: Tragedy?!

I had prepared for this day, though truthfully, I had only half a mind to really ponder it. Did I know it would happen? Yes. Did I want it to? No.

But there she lay, bloody and battered on the muddy ground, left to die. I couldn't move, couldn't feel my limbs working. It was as if the worlds had stopped spinning and time had frozen in place. The sky had begun to cry, its tears mixing with the blood as they streamed down her face. It was devastating to see her once smooth skin so scarred, blood leaking from multiple deep gashes across her face. She beckoned me forward with a weak flick of her wrist before it dropped heavily onto the ground with a wet thud. Her eyelids were barely able to open, half concealing the dull green of her eyes that held a pleading look.

She knew she didn't have much time. She knew that death was inescapable at this point, already chained and bound to Death to be taken away. I noticed that her body lacked the usual green glow, and I had the urge to scream to tell her to keep fighting. She had given up on healing herself. What scared me most was the fact that she seemed to be accepting this better than I am. Maybe I should've spent the time to really prepare for this whole death situation.

I felt crushed, some sort of ache taking a hold of my heart, threatening to squeeze it until it collapses. Feelings were never my forte but it was times like these that made me wish I didn't have any again. Times like these when fear of her well-being gripped my feelings and juggled them carelessly. Times like these when I wished that she was just a mere girl who happened to stumble upon some luck and defeated me. Times like these when I wished that she wasn't the same girl who revived me with the very hands she used to break me.

Times like these when I wished, for the love of Kami or whoever was up there, that I didn't fall in love with her. Times like these when I wished I had never met her bright sea foam green eyes and felt my heart quicken its pace. Times like these I wish I had stopped thinking day and night about the color of her hair; that intense exotic pink I'd come to adore. Times like these when I wished it wasn't her that I could not stop thinking about.

I mustered up what little strength I could and slowly made my way to her side. Kneeling down, I was careful to avoid an oddly-angled arm. My eyes stung; whether from the rain or the tears that threatened to fall, I couldn't tell. There was a greater sting residing in the middle of my rib cage, hurting enough to make me wish I wasn't breathing just to ease the ache. I couldn't help gently wiping her face clean of the dirt that covered her paling face, and brushing some of her hair out of the way. Her eyes were closed and if it hadn't been the painfully slow and slight rise and fall of her chest, I would've thought her already dead. I was startled when my hand was grasped by hers, bare of her signature gloves. She held it to her chest, opening her eyes, only to close them again as she had a violent fit of coughs, fresh blood dripping from the corners of her mouth. This was it.

"Our love…" she managed to rasp out.

Yes, doll, our love. Our love of which was more perpetual than the eternal beauty of puppetry. Our love that was more than the amount of stars in the sky, the ones you loved so much on the nights when they would come out and sparkle against the contrasting night sky. Our love of which was beyond the imagination; greater than the limitless space. Our love of which was like the cherry blossoms that fell and rained down on you as you danced around in the pink shower of flowers. Our love that created seemingly endless moments when you sat in my arms in amicable silence, where you showed me love by displaying the subtle signs of affections that I have come to crave and love so much; the gentle kisses, small caresses, feather-light touches. Our love of which was ending much too soon. What about our love, doll?

With one last breath, one last smile, one last touch, one last chance; the fire in her eyes burning out as she closed them for the one last time.

"…is infinite."

Yes, my love. Indeed it is. Our love is eternal.

Wait for me, love.